Tree Shape - what can you do?

[Hypersmurf]

The spell gives an effective Dexterity of 1.

With 0 Dex, you can't move... but with 1?

While in Tree form, can the druid move? Speak? Cast?

If he can't move or speak, could he cast with Silent and Still Spell feats?

-Hyp.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Re:

First thing you have to do - even before you cast Tree Shape: Cast antipathy on yourself repelling dogs with a full bladder.

Hm... Since you have the form of a tree, you can't move. Because a tree can't move, having no muscles. Also, it would not make sense.
Same goes with speaking: you have no mouth, you don't speak.
Spellcasting: hm... if you eliminate the verbal, somantic AND material components (or the spell has none), it should be alright. But focuses could be tricky, if the spell has one, as they meld into your new form.
So you probably have to abandon your disguise, but that's a free action anyway.

 

[Mark Chance]

Hmm...

What can you do while in tree form?

Good question. I wood try to answer this, but I think I'll leaf it to the experts. A sap like me can't handle it. It would take some thought to get to the root of the issue. The most sensible thing for me to do is to pine away waiting for a thorough reply.

 

[fba827]

Hey Mark Chance, you're a punny guy!

And I gotta agree with the repelling dogs thing....

But, to answer the question... (first off, I don't have my books handy so I can't re-read it). I am pretty sure you can still observe the surroundings - Druidic voyerism

Some uses that come to mind...

Hide in a forest
Spy on a nearby encampment/structure/settlment

As for casting spells and the like, I would wager that most components are out:
V ('cause you can't speak)
S ('cause you can't move)
M ('cause you can't manipulate the M)
F ('cause, again, you can't manipulate the F. and it specifically says in the components description that you must manipulate an F component)
DF - this is slightly tricky. It really does fall into the same catagory as the F. However, I keep thinking I saw in the FAQ or an "Ask the Sage" that DFs can be on a person, like a pendant on a necklace or an emblem on a shield, for instance. So this component may work if the DF is hanging on the tree form somewhere

Now if you have the silent and still feats (and whatever else that removes the necessity of various components) you could probably cast just fine sine (I believe) your mind is still in tact.

You can't move, being a tree and all... maybe just sway a little.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I am pretty sure you can still observe the surroundings - Druidic voyerism

Yes you can. The spell would be a little stupid otherwise...

But this way you can observe a lot of interesting things:

• Enemies coming through the forest
• Urgent looking dogs
• Lumberjacks with big axes and a guy who marks you the same way as the other trees that just get felled.
• Couples that inscribe their initials on your behind.
• Squirrels that "plug those two nuts and the fir cone over there and shove them into that treehole over there as a reserve for the harsh season"

Well, if I think about it, a simple invisiblity might be better....